‘You tricked me into helping you last time. Archbishop Malone said I was not to speak to the police. So please just go away and leave me alone.’

‘I’m sorry I was underhand. I regret not being upfront with you. At the time I believed Bishop Meade was lying to me and wouldn’t let me speak with you personally,’ Jane explained.

‘Bishop Meade is as honest as the day is long,’ she said primly. ‘He wouldn’t—’

‘Bishop Meade is dead. We just found his body in the archbishop’s office.’

Mrs Parkin looked mortified. ‘Dead! How?’

‘It looks like he may have taken his own life.’

‘Why . . . why would he do that?’ she asked, clearly distraught. ‘Bishop Meade is a kind and gentle man.’

‘Other people have said that as well. I understand how distressed you must be, and I’m sure you want to go home right now, Mrs Parkin. But my job is to get to the truth of what happened and why. There’s something very important that’s come up in our investigation and we need to resolve it as soon as possible.’

Mrs Parkin wiped her eyes with a tissue, then took a deep breath before replying. ‘What is it?’

‘We now know the murdered woman was a sister at St Mary’s Covent. Her name was Melissa Bailey. We have reason to believe Archbishop Malone signed a dispensation letter allowing her to renounce her faith and leave the convent. Do you know if that document exists?’

‘No, but it might. Archbishop Malone came down here yesterday morning and said he needed to look through some old documents.’

‘What time was that?’

‘About eleven or eleven-thirty. I offered to get the documents for him, but he said he’d get them himself.’

‘Did he appear angry?’

‘He did, actually. Anyway, he went into the archives and came out a few minutes later holding a document, then left the room without saying anything. It might have been the dispensation letter.’

‘How do you find Archbishop Malone?’

‘To be perfectly honest, he’s an arrogant pig of a man with a terrible temper. He talks down to everyone and shouts when you make a mistake or are too slow in doing something for him. The truth is no one here likes him, but you don’t dare talk back, or he’ll have you sacked. He’s been known to move priests who have upset him to churches in all sorts of godforsaken places.’

Jane remembered Boon telling her Becky had been making inquiries at the council planning offices about the sale of the convent.

‘Remember last time I was here I asked you about quotes or invoices for building work at the convent? I wondered if you found any.’

‘I haven’t really looked, but I can do it now if you want.’

‘Are you sure?’ Jane asked.